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  Power management in appliancesUSPTO Application #: 20060109384Title: Power management in appliances Abstract: An appliance, such as a set top box, has an ON power mode and a STAND BY power mode and is in communication with a television set. A parameter of an operating signal associated with the television set is monitored and the value of the parameter is compared with predetermined values at which the set top box is desired to be either operative (ON power mode) or inoperative (STAND BY power mode). When a predetermined value of the parameter is detected, the current power mode of the set top box is evaluated and, if necessary, changed. Power supply to the TV set, operating frequency of a local oscillator/mixer in the TV set or the presence of a line scan signal from the TV set rate can be monitored to determine whether the appliance should be turned on or off. (end of abstract) Agent: Philips Intellectual Property & Standards - Briarcliff Manor, NY, US Inventors: Richard M Miller-Smith, David E. Penna USPTO Applicaton #: 20060109384 - Class: 348730000 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060109384. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] The present invention relates to improved power management in consumer appliances which output video signals for display through a users' television set, such as set top boxes (STBs). [0002] STBs receive broadcasting signals from, for example, cable, digital or satellite service providers. The signals are typically fed to a single channel of the associated television set. Other channels are typically reserved for terrestrial television signals, VHS/DVD players or games consoles. Once tuned to the STB signal-receiving channel, a variety of different broadcast signals can be selected for viewing through that channel. [0003] It will be appreciated that a significant amount of power is consumed by a STB when receiving a large number of broadcast signals from a service provider, power that is wasted when none of the broadcasts are being viewed or heard by a user. [0004] In order to conserve energy, modern electronic appliances are commonly provided with a "stand-by" mode. When in this mode, the appliance is essentially switched off, except for a receiving circuit, which is configured to receive a reset signal, for example an infrared signal emitted by a remote control hand set. This mode enables energy that might otherwise be used to power the appliance, to be conserved without the need for disconnecting the appliance from its main power supply. [0005] It is known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,292,943 B1 to provide a power control method for a STB. That method is specifically directed to signalling a STB which is in a "stand-by" mode to switch on and to transmit a broadcast programme which has been selected for recording on a video cassette recorder (VCR). In the method, a VCR is programmed to record a specified program at a specified time. When the VCR prepares to record at the specified time, a signal is sent to the STB to ensure that the STB is switched on and ready to relay the signal associated with the selected programme for recording by the VCR. [0006] An object of the present invention is to reduce energy consumption of an appliance which outputs a video signal. [0007] According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a power control method for an appliance which outputs a video signal for display on a television set, the appliance having an ON power mode and a STAND BY power mode and being in communication with the television set, the method comprising; [0008] monitoring a parameter of an operating signal associated with the television set; [0009] comparing the value of the parameter with predetermined values at which the appliance is desired to be either operative (ON power mode) or inoperative (STAND BY power mode); and, [0010] evaluating, when a predetermined value of the parameter is detected, the current power mode of the appliance and if this is not the desired power mode, initiating a change in operation of the appliance from its current power mode to the desired power mode. [0011] In one simple embodiment, the operating signal is the electricity supply passing through the power cord to the television set. Optionally, the parameter monitored is the electric current passing through the power cord. It will be understood that when the television set is switched on so as to display a broadcast programme, the electric current will be significantly higher than when the set is switched off or in stand by mode. In such an arrangement, when a predetermined electric current value, higher than that associated with the television set being off or in stand by mode is detected, operation of the appliance in ON power mode is initiated. When the electric current value falls below this predetermined value, the operation of the appliance is switched to stand by mode. Thus, the appliance can be configured to switch to its ON mode, automatically, when the television set is on, or to its STAND BY mode when the television set is switched off or to stand by. It is to be understood that whilst the specific example of current is given here, with suitable sensors, other variable parameters of the electricity supply could be monitored without materially affecting the mode of operation of this embodiment. [0012] This first embodiment of the method may be effected by a suitably adapted electrical socket into which the power cable of the television set is plugged and which is in electrical communication with a controller for the appliance. Sensors in the socket monitor a chosen parameter (e.g. current, voltage or resistance) passing to the power cable and the television set, when the sensors detect that a pre-determined value, for example, of the electric current has been reached or exceeded, this information is relayed to the controller which in turns signals the appliance to power up to full ON power mode. Conversely, when the sensors detect that the current monitored has fallen below the predetermined value, the controller signals the appliance to power down to STAND BY mode. [0013] In an alternative embodiment, the operating signal monitored is the frequency of the oscillator/mixer of the television set. One particular frequency will define the channel through which the services received by the appliance are carried to the TV. When this pre-determined frequency is detected, the appliance is operated in full ON power mode, when the frequency is other than the pre-determined frequency, the appliance is operated in STAND BY mode. [0014] Such an embodiment of the method can be effected with the use of an RF cable connecting the controller of the appliance with the television set. Leakages down the RF cable can be monitored for occurrences of the pre-determined frequency. Detection of the pre-determined frequency signals a controller of the appliance to operate the box in ON power mode. Detection of a different frequency, or zero frequency, signals the controller to operate the box in STAND BY mode. [0015] In another alternative embodiment, the operating signal is the line scan of images displayed on the screen of the associated television set (having a cathode ray tube display). Thus, the predetermined `value` may be the presence or absence of a line scan. Magnetic field detection can be used as a means of detecting the line scan rate. [0016] In a more complex version of this embodiment, line scans may incorporate signatures which can be recognised by a controller of the appliance as relating to a broadcast made by the service provider whose broadcasts the appliance is configured to receive. The "parameter" monitored would be a signature of the line scan. Thus, in this more complex version, the appliance is configured to operate in ON mode only when the television set is on and the viewer is viewing a programme received through the appliance. [0017] The signature of the line scan may be a subtle alteration of the timing and/or frequency of the line scan associated with a particular service provider. An alternative arrangement is possible, with the signature of the line scan being a n appliance generated signal. In this embodiment, even if there are multiple pieces of equipment connected to the TV (such as STBs, games consoles etc.) each one can uniquely identify it's own signal. In a digital system video is played out of a frame buffer and a system clock controlling the buffer can be altered. [0018] Whatever parameter is actually monitored, the appliance can operate a system whereby it establishes a threshold level of the switching parameter. This could be done adaptively by observation. So, for example, the appliance could monitor power current for the TV over a period and find a high range and a low range of power usage (corresponding to on and standby). Having done this it could set the threshold in the gap between these ranges, for example at the halfway point. In this way, adaptive determination of the threshold is achieved. [0019] Further aspects of the invention provide a power control apparatus for an appliance, an appliance incorporating the power control apparatus and a computer program for controlling operation of the power control apparatus. [0020] Whilst embodiments in this specification describe a STB, it is to be understood that the invention may equally be applied to the power management of other TV peripherals such as DVD players, VCRs and games consoles. [0021] For the purposes of exemplification, there now follows a brief description of some embodiments of the invention as shown in the accompanying Figures of which: [0022] FIG. 1 shows, in flow chart form, the power management method performed by a controller of an appliance in accordance with the invention; [0023] FIG. 2 shows an appliance and television set device for use in performing a first embodiment of the power management method of the invention, based on monitoring power supply to the television set; [0024] FIG. 3 shows control functions of the appliance in FIG. 2; Continue reading... Full patent description for Power management in appliances Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Power management in appliances patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. 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